Veteran upset by tough call

MICKY ADAMS has apologised to veteran campaigner Richard Shaw for substituting him midway through the first half after the Sky Blues conceded three goals in the first 24 minutes at bottom of the league Crewe Alexandra.

MICKY ADAMS has apologised to veteran campaigner Richard Shaw for substituting him midway through the first half after the Sky Blues conceded three goals in the first 24 minutes at bottom of the league Crewe Alexandra.

The City boss had warned he would follow Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho's lead and make early changes if he felt his players weren't performing, and he carried out that threat when he made the 37-year-old centre-back a scapegoat for the team's dreadful defensive display.

"I am disappointed that I have had to make such an early substitution, particularly to such a magnificent professional, but I needed to change things and try to wake the rest of the back four up," explained Adams after the 4-1 defeat at Gresty Road.

"Any one of them could have come off."

Shaw, whose exemplary 10 years' service to the club has earned him a testimonial next month, was clearly unhappy as he marched off the pitch humiliated.

"I didn't see Richard's reaction but I have apologised to him in the dressing room for having to do it," added Adams. "

"But managers have to do things to try to change the course of games and when he's a manager he might see the same problems that I have got and decide on the same course of action.

"If I could have made four substitutions I would have done so.

"But I would like to publicly apologise to Richard. While he might not have agreed with my decision, I needed a reaction from the players and unfortunately I didn't get it.

"I took Andrew Whing off before half time and that was also tactical. He took a knock just before that but I was disappointed with aspects of some of his defending.

"But we could go through the whole team. Individually and collectively they weren't good enough from start to finish."